Illinois Raids Firm Suspected Of Spills

March 12, 1985|By Casey Bukro, Environment writer.

A leaking chemical storage tank discovered by Illinois officials who raided a Kankakee County plating company early Monday triggered concern about drinking-water safety for about two dozen homes nearby.

The raid at the Kankakee Plating Co. in Bradley was conducted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and state law enforcement officials who suspected that the firm had dumped cyanide wastes into the Bradley sewer system and possibly contaminated air, water and soil.

The officials found thousands of gallons of cyanide wastes that authorities believe were stored there illegally.

Bradley Mayor Ken Hayes pointed out that about two dozen homes within 200 feet of the plant use well water. He said that the leaking tank was not believed to contain cyanide but that tests would be conducted on the contents. ``I see no cause for concern immediately, but I do want to get all the wells tested as fast as possible,`` the mayor said.

State environmental officials collected chemical samples for testing.

Kankakee Plating is surrounded by about 100 homes, but the mayor said most of them are linked to the city water system, which would not be affected by chemical leaks.

Acting on information from a former employee, authorities got a search warrant in connection with an investigation of possible criminal violations of state laws regulating disposal of hazardous wastes.

``Thousands of gallons of cyanide plating wastes`` were discovered in the concrete block building, said Gary Long, commander of the hazardous-materials section of the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement`s division of criminal investigations.

Three employees were taken to a hospital for blood tests to determine if they have been poisoned by working with the cyanide wastes, officials said. It was not known Monday when the test results would be available.

On Friday a Kankakee County circuit judge issued the search warrant because of fears that cyanide wastes were stored there longer than the 90-day legal limit and that they were being dumped into the local sewer system, officials said.

The raid was considered important to public health, Long said, because

``we feel we are working to prevent a significant release of cyanide into the environment, either into the water, air or ground.``

Authorities also obtained a warrant to seize company records in the home of the firm`s owner, Ron Golembiewski of Bradley. Reached by telephone, Golembiewski declined to comment.

William Herzog, state`s attorney of Kankakee County, said the effect on public health from cyanide disposal at the plant is not yet known.